AlphaShades Car Windshield Sunshade Review

 

Alpha-Shades-logo-web-e1430901082595

Summer can be awesome. Fun in the sun, the pool, trips to exotic locales. But one thing that has always sucked about the summer (or. really, any time in California) is a hot, stifling car with nuclear-hot seats thanks to the sun. Everything gets hot, bleached out, and brittle. Thank heavens for AlphaShades and their car windshield sunshade. No more burned backsides, or scalding steering wheels for me!

DSC_0296

See, the heat is pretty bad. We all know how ridiculously hot a vehicle’s cabin gets in the sun. It’s now quite easily 20 degrees cooler now with my AlphaShades Sunshade. That translates into more gas savings, as I don’t have to start the truck and then crank the A/C while it idles and make the cabin suitable for humans. It means less wear and tear on the vehicle too. But that’s just a fraction of the savings.

See, UV light destroys almost everything, eventually. Intense all day exposure makes cloth seats bleach out and prone to tears, drys and cracks natural leather, and will cause vinyl to almost fall apart. Not to mention what it does to steering wheels (Hot! Hot! Hot!), gear shift knobs, door panels…You get the idea. With AlphaShades you’re golden. And I’m not talking about the color your palms turn having to make a left out of the parking lot without a sunshade.

DSC_0297

“But I don’t have the room in my car for this huge shade!” says you. “But it folds down to 1/10 it’s size with a couple of twists!” says I. It even comes with a little sleeve to keep it safely tucked away behind the seat, under the seat, or on the floor, and an elastic strap so it doesn’t pop open mid-drive and wreak havoc. The best part? it’s 100% satisfaction guaranteed. I’ll quote their Amazon listing here, because I couldn’t say it better: “No Questions Asked, 100% Money Back, Lifetime Guarantee”. Boom. No worries about it falling apart, tearing, or popping a seam. You’re covered. Literally and figuratively. One issue I do have is that this shade is nearly twice as expensive as competitors on Amazon, and they’re all made of the same nylon/polyester material, and of similar (if not the same) size, 59″ x 31″(approx.). So I’ll let my readers decide if the “Lifetime Guarantee” is worth the extra coin.

Connect with AlphaShades:

I received the above product(s) free of charge from AlphaShades.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Advertisement

EXUVIANCE® : Sheer Daily Protector Sunscreen Broad Spectrum, SPF 50 #Exuviance

IMAG2998

It’s been established, I’m a pale girl and when the sun even touches me, I then turn into a gorgeous (<—says no one) shade of pink, followed by red, and then I may or may not tan. I can handle the red and pink hues because it makes sure my “lobster girl” name sticks, plus I remind everyone that lobster’s have claws 🙂 It’s the latter part that I wish I could control and especially in areas I don’t want to tan (aka: age, get sun damage…..all that fun stuff). Having a perma-blush look is also not so flattering! My problem remains the same, where I want to add a SPF that is beyond 30 but it will not effect my make-up. It’s never a problem when I’m at home and walking around with a “naked face”, but it always is when it comes to applying foundations and going out in public. If I even get a foundation to work with a sunscreen, I then look oily or even a clam-y white hours later and this girl wants to swim in the ocean, not look like anything that comes in a shell from it!

Exuviance has been a guest on here before and I even shared attending one of those brand events at Ulta. The products, the brand to the people that work with them is something I enjoy experiencing because Exuviance is about making products that work for real people. Real people have temperamental skin and mine acts like a toddler that is throwing a fit at the market and of course blocking the aisle, so no one can pass! I get clogged pores to even bumps that make you guess they are the beginning of a pimple, then decided to take over and turn into a growth with no center, to then making me even entertain the idea it’s a bug bite. It’s like my bumps say guess what I am? In the end, my picking at my face wins and any idea of examining it’s remains is lodged nicely under the scar I created. I resigned myself that if I want real protection from the sun, I will suffer the toddler rage, which is my skin problems versus having to deal with the consequences of going SPF free.

Retail Price Point: $42.00 via NeoStrata or Ulta for a 1.7 fluid ounce bottle.  Ulta has deals going all the time, like adding bonus items with purchase as it is, but also bonuses with exclusive brand purchases.  Amazon also carries the product and it’s sold by Exuviance too.

Exuviance sent me their Sheer Daily Protector Sunscreen Broad Spectrum in SPF 50. I immediately thought, someone at Exuviance knows me or they sent a drone out that saw what happens when this girl meets the pool. I then opened the bottle and squirted a small sample to inspect…….um,

IMAG3003-1

 

Yeah, it says sheer so I thought clear or a white formula that fades to clear. Plus, the formula is ultra light. Light enough to not feel, but thin enough to spread easily and evenly. I figured they mean sheer for normal people not my polar bear white skin. I still ventured forward and started reading the directions.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Application:
It’s good to read things and this one matters. You shake the bottle for 15 seconds, which is longer than my 4 to 5 shakes I give things even though I consider myself a person that shakes with “meaning”. I will always shake things from condiments, inhalers, drinks if they must be shaken and even if I saw you shake it, I will do it again out of habit. Sort of like my 3 extra shakes will make up for the settling that happened in the time it took for you to pass me the mustard bottle! I shook and counted. I can say Exuviance is making my heart healthy with this early A.M. exercise. Then you simply apply a good layer, that easily spreads out and then quickly my skin absorbed it. You saw above where the product looked like it had tint……well, none was detected once applied. It’s seriously like that wall patch stuff that comes tinted and when it dries, it blends into the wall. This was that stuff and played the same way out where I could see where I applied and then magic….my skin went back to same hue I have but improved.

Ingredients (as listed on their Website); 

Active Ingredients- Titanium Dioxide 7.0%, Zinc Oxide 6.0%

Inactive Ingredients- Benzoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Gluconolactone, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Alumina, Ammonium Hydroxide, Lactobionic Acid, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Phenethyl Benzoate, Nylon-12, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E) Acetate, Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Isohexadecane, Tocopherol, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Methicone, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Citrate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sodium Bisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491 (Iron Oxide Red), CI 77492 (Iron Oxide Yellow), CI 77499 (Iron Oxide Black).

 

IMAG3002

Verdict:
Once the poof! happened and the product was not visible, I noticed my skin felt smooth and did not have a shine. I had a semi-matte finish and because my skin felt smooth, I skipped on my primer. Yup, I was going to see what this product was made of! Even my pores looked less visible, so why not?  I then applied my foundation, which is a sheer to medium coverage formula. Blended the same way as if I had applied nothing and realize my foundation has no SPF (hard to find) because I just want to avoid “skin happenings”. I looked and my skin’s appearance improved because my foundation applied and leveled out better once it set. I continued and started to wonder if I was sent water. This is too good to be sunscreen, feels too nice to even think I’m making a sunscreen pretend to be a primer and I expect SPF 50 protection? Nope, not gonna happen.

I then went out on that day and I had to do returns, plus shop……..at one of those outdoor malls! You walk the same distance as in a normal “indoor” mall but someone got a great idea to make things fancy-shmancy looking by making me try to walk in heels on cobblestone and outside like with real natural air and weather! I started to rethink my decision but it’s noon and I’m ready to go. I go and shop around. I have more problems with my heels and wish when they make self-driving cars, that it means the car comes to me, gets the bags, and goes back from hence it came! It’s getting hotter because my head feels it and my left arm is getting pink but my shoulder is a nice red glow. I walk into a store and pretend I’m interested in what they have to offer but it’s really the AC that I care about. Looking and my face feels that slight sweat feeling but I got to the AC in time. I look in the mirror and my face is still the same. No pink nose or cheeks and I only need to fix my lipstick. My foundation is a little glossy where I started to “almost sweat” but once dry, I’m set. Okay, maybe it’s not tinted water in a bottle!

I expected to write a review that was not glowing because I jumped and thought no-way is this product sheer and no way can any SPF product over 30 and even 50 be like this. I thought the 50 meant the amount of applications per day.  I was wrong (sowwy Exuviance). The next day, I expected the chin bumps but nothing and I realized after reading (yeah, I know I caught myself again when it came to what I said about reading directions), the product is called “Sheer Daily Protector”. It’s more than just sunscreen and you get a formula that protects, nourishes, and this a product that goes beyond what I understood sun protection was. I thought you stick to to the huge amounts of sunscreen, say a few positive words, and then hope for the best when you head out.  I even try talking nice to the sun!  I used the product the following day and because I know read and stuck, it’s also a product that can be used on the body.  I cover my decolletage (hey, I went to a fancy-shmancy mall 🙂 ) and even my left arm that is tanner than the other from when I drive.  I keep expecting to experience problems with coverage, protection to even small irritations but my skin pretends it can play in the sun…….I sort of go along with it because maybe, just maybe this year I can get a nice (but healthy) t-a-n.  Okay, I’ll settle for a glow!

Experience an outdoor mall but not before connecting with Exuviance at:

I received the above product(s) free of charge from NeoStrata (Exuviance).  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Klout: FernDale’s HelioCare Daily Antioxidant Capsules #Review #Klout

IMAG1668

I had received a sample of HelioCare in the past but not sufficient enough to provide a detailed review. Not only did this perk provide enough capsules for me to fairly test out but also enough to share. Having a spa and pool is great minus the upkeep and of course the sun tends to tax our skin. I have a large amount of sunscreen scattered around the house to bottles in the garage (in varies SPF amounts), so no excuse to not wear it and be protected. Even the mutt has her own bottle because she seems to be a California dog and even has what I call “fur freckles”. She was snow white until she started sun bathing and you bet I yell at her too!

In comes HelioCare’s capsules that are simple to take. Many supplements want you to take several pills through out the day but this one is easy. You simply take one capsule, once a day! This means a 60 capsule bottle fulfills a 60-Day supply. Each capsule has 240 milligrams, plus secondary ingredients like Corn Starch, Gelatin, Magnesium Stearate, Titanium Dioxide for color and also FD&C Yellow.

IMAG1670

Indications:

1 capsule 30 minutes before sun exposure. If remaining in the sun longer than 2 to 3 hours, take a second capsule after the initial “protected period” period passes (2 to 3 hours of sun exposure).

What is “FernBlock PLE ” Technology:

The capsules from HelioCare are filled with Polypodium Leucotomos, also known as Calaguala leaf extract. The leaf has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which can benefit the skin. The pill does not replace topical sunscreen but look at it as an extra layer of protection. The PL extract also aids with free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and could help with UV photo-aging process.

IMAG1671

Benefits:

  • Increases tolerance to exposure to the sun
  • Reduces skin changes after chronic exposure to the sun
  • Helps maintain the skin’s elasticity (skin’s health)
  • Provides cell protection in the epidermis
  • Protects skin cell DNA

IMAG1669

Results:
I took HelioCare as indicated and also noticed the product’s packaging recommended a second dose, if I am going to be out in the sun for longer than 2 to 3 hours. On the third hour, I did take a second pill but this was a rarity for me because I do limit my sun exposure to about 2 hours in the pool. Having a light skin’s complexion means I just have to watch it! I used sunscreen with a 50 SPF at all times too. I did notice on week two that I did NOT get the “lobster effect” when I was in the pool. The pool’s water just reflects like a mirror and the sun’s intensity tends to magnify. To give you an example when it comes to my skin, my legs will tan even when I am in the water. Yup, that means just swimming, floating or exercising and not sunbathing. If I happen to hop on to a floaty, I can only lounge on it for 10 minutes top and then I hear usually from someone that I need to flip like a pancake because I’m overcooking on my topside. With Heliocare I still followed my “sun rules” but I did not get the red effect. It was kind of nice not to look like a crustacean and just get a little nice glow from the sun. This alone made me want to continue use. It may seem vain not to want to look red but I don’t want people to think “ouch” when they see me outside near water!

Price Point: MSRP is $50, however I found the bottle on several sites that ranged from $29.99 to $32.00, but Amazon beat all by listing a $21.99 price point. Shop wisely!

My only Con: The dyes/color additives serve no purpose other than making the product look yellow and eye appealing.  I prefer a natural appearance (as-is) versus taking anything with this additives, but the benefits outweigh the negative when it comes to HelioCare.

IMAG1672

To get more information on HelioCare, please visit:

I received the above product(s) free of charge from HelioCare and Klout.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Swaggable: Alive Reef Safe Sunscreen from Sea Kind #Review

IMAG1596

Sea Kind makes several products for the face and body, from sunscreens to bath salts. I received a tube of the Alive Reef Safe Sunscreen and liked that the product is advertised as being 100% natural. It’s a good start for my skin and especially with this summer being in the pool a little more than usual. The formula provides 20% Zinc Oxide and is broad-spectrum, protecting your skin from UVA/UVB rays. The tube came with zero information when it came to contents and oddly the product had no marker when it came to SPF. I know! A sunscreen tube that does not reflect the coverage of SPF was a first for me but this is why we have google 🙂

I seek and I find that Sea Kind makes only one sunscreen formula and it comes in SPF 30. You won’t see the number in the description on the product’s page and ready for ordering, but if you put your mouse over the bottle’s image….viola!

  • Naturally Derived Ingredients (from the website):
    ZINC OXIDE 20%, PURIFIED WATER, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE, COCONUT OIL, CAPRIC CAPRYLIC TRIGLYCERIDES, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, CASTOR OIL, POLYGLYCEROL-10 LAURATE, MAGNESIUM SULFATE, SUNFLOWER OIL, JOJOBA OIL, TOCOPHEROLS, ACOPHYLLUM NODOSUM. HYALURONIC ACID, IRON OXIDES, PHENOXYETHANOL, ETHYL HEXYL GLYCERIN, PROPRIETARY BLEND OF FRUIT, HERB AND FLOWER ESSENTIAL OILS COMPLYING WITH THE ISO 9235 NATURAL STANDARD.

NO OXYBENZONE. NO PARABENS, PHTHALATES OR SULFATES. NO SYNTHETIC COLORS, DYES OR FRAGRANCE. NON-GMO, CRUELTY FREE

  • Price Point: $24.95 and again you have to put your mouse over the bottle’s image to see that it’s for a bottle that supplies 3.0 fluid ounces.

IMAG1595

Results:

Being a Southern California native, I have tried mostly every brand and formula readily available. I look for a product that does not clog my pores, is long lasting and simply works. I always found the first two features present but working on my fair skin was always the issue. I can start tanning rather quickly with SPF 50 on me but not all are created equal. Looking lobster red is not cute no matter the bikini you just bought and let’s not get into how bad it is health wise and much less how it feels that evening and the following days. I was weary of trusting a SPF 30 product to protect me enough. I have even given up on being tint/oily free and found peace having a white film as long as I could swim and stroll without looking like a sea creature but I decided to test this out. You will notice the “Non-Nano” on the bottle and this means the product will not absorb into your skin. As stated on the site, “The 200 namometer size particles avoids the risk of absorption in the body caused by smaller nano particles”. The formula also says water resistant and I used the every 80 minutes rule when it came to reapplication because again this was not stated on the product or site.

Verdict:

I can state that the product is light, leaves a slight oil shimmer but not even close to calling it oily. It just looks like you applied a light lotion and my face remained protected with zero clogs or blemishes, so zero penalties for trying not to burn. I tanned but no redness so protection was there and this was being in the pool and surviving 3 tidal waves that my wonderful Husband claims 2 were pure accident but since I had already assigned blame, the third one was “just because” he was already getting the evil eye from me.

Final Verdict:

I like the product and wish I could have tried it longer but my test tube really satisfied 2 face applications. I like the formula and it’s claims. Being 100% natural is rare and working is rarer for me. I just leave it in your hands when it comes to paying almost $25 for 3.0 ounces. My application was light on the second reapply, and that equated to using .33 fluid ounces for 160 minutes of pool time and just on my face. I would purchase this to be seriously blemish and irritant free on the face but can’t suggest taking the plunge for total body application unless you don’t see the sun much and can make the tube stretch.

Checkout the entire line of Face and Body Products from Sea Kind:

  • On-line– http://sea-kind.com/sea-kind-ultra-sunscreen
  • Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/pages/SEA-KIND/424252987638160
  • Twitter– https://twitter.com/SeaKind
  • Google+– https://plus.google.com/106139072276040110862/about
  • Pinterest– http://www.pinterest.com/seakindpinteres/

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Swaggable and Sea Kind. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

BzzAgent: Coppertone ClearlySheer For Sunny Days Sunscreen Body Lotion #Review #Coppertone

IMAG1114

I know we need it and this is why I use it, but I don’t have to like it. This has been my attitude towards SPF anything in the past. I even apply the shot glass worth to my face and try not to make faces while doing it. I tell myself while applying where I don’t need it as the sun won’t be seeing this or that, in hopes I can talk myself down from continuing to achieve a oily but white chalky look for the sake of protection. I have also opted in just not going out because I did not feel like being greasy that day.  Staying indoors while the birds and squirrels tease me by having feathers and fur is not my ideal way of spending Summer.  Having a pool means even the water taunts me in coming out but “lobster girl” is not something I desire and last I checked, not exactly in the hot looks for 2014!

IMAG1113

In comes Coppertone’s new solution for “SPF Frightened” people like me. CLEARLYSheer’s formula allows the user to still be protected with their SPF 30 and SPF 50 formulas, but minus the I bathe in milk look. Your skin remains your own color tone, plus the formula is non-irritating. Friendly to acne, but in the way like it does not clog your pores or cause any breakouts. You have a sheer finish that moisturizes but is not heavy. Yet you can play for up to 80 minutes in the water before needing to reapply…….I call that living in peace with the sun. The sun does not burn me, so I don’t have to hide from it so beware those that go near me when I’m in the pool, I’m the splashing kind 🙂

 

You can check-out Coppertone and find the formula that fits your needs at:

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from BzzAgent and Coppertone.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours. #GotItFree

 

 

BzzAgent: Coppertone CLEARLYSheer Sunscreen Spray lotion #Review #Coppertone

Coppertone 2

 

It’s hot and the weather started warming quickly in California, as we never really got to experience a real Winter. Yes, the days got overcast but the sky never opened up, thus we are experiencing a severe drought. The sun and protection from it is an all-year-round worry in Southern California, so everyone welcomes a discount or even a free sample.

I was able to test drive the new Coppertone ClearlySheer products, both in lotion and spray lotion form.  You have two formulas and one comes in a blue and white colored bottle for “Beach & Pool” and the other is the yellow bottle, “For Sunny Days”.   Each has it’s own application and I am fond of both because quite simply……I have not burned this Spring or Summer.

I used the Spray formula in both versions and even found the formula  “For Sunny Days” performed well if I had a short dip in the pool.  The spray has a nice application tip that allows even coverage and you can just spray and go.  Great for when the hour comes to reapply for continuing protection.  The sunscreen does not clog pore and dries sheer.  No longer do you have to deal with that white film over your skin that stained clothes, made you look milky and let’s not forget that feeling that your skin can’t breathe.  I did find a residue is left but think of how it feels when you apply coconut oil, your skin still can breathe but the oil does not feel heavy or nasty.

My only Con:

The product is sheer as I mentioned but because of the residue, sand will stick to you if you are at the beach and if you are gardening, dirt and even leaf trimmings may stick on.  An easy flick gets it off but you do get those “dirt creases” in areas like the inside of your wrist or the inside part of your arm, back of the knees….and so forth.  I don’t burn so I think it’s totally worth a little grime that in the end I made and found by doing yard work.

Coppertone

You can check-out Coppertone and find the formula that fits your needs at:

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from BzzAgent and Coppertone.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours. #Got it Free

 

 

 

 

%d bloggers like this: